HomeResultsEventsKeapstone Therapeutics secures further €1,1 million investment from Parkinson’s UK

Keapstone Therapeutics secures further €1,1 million investment from Parkinson’s UK

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24 September 2018

Keapstone Therapeutics is preparing to make the next steps in clinical candidate selection and first-in-human studies. This investment brings the...

Currently 1.2 million people in Europe are affected by Parkinson’s disease. This devastating condition is causing an enormous economic and social burden. Although a lot of research has been directed towards this neurodegenerative disease, it remains incurable. Keapstone Therapeutics, a virtual biotech company established by the charity Parkinson’s UK and the University of Sheffield, aims to change that. Keapstone Therapeutics is developing small ‘drug-like’ molecules who trigger a possible built-in defense system that boost the protection against neurodegenerative diseases.

“What was attractive about the data package from ELF was that it was generated based on industrial standards” Dr Jan Kulagowski, Drug Discovery Manager at Parkinson’s UK.

Parkinson's UK aims to improve the lives of people with Parkison’s disease. There are no effective treatments for motor neuron disease and while current Parkinson’s disease treatments help to manage symptoms they cannot slow or stop the progression of the condition. Recent research estimates that Parkinson’s currently affects 6.9 million people across the globe and this number is expected to more than double to over 14 million people by 2040.

Keapstone Therapeutics, established in 2017, is the first of its kind. The company combines world-leading research from the University of Sheffield with funding and expertise from Parkinson’s UK to develop new treatments.

Read the testimonial of Jan Kulagowski, Drug Discovery Manager at Parkinson’s UK, about the added value of the European Lead Factory.

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The research leading to these results has received support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement n' 115489, resources of which are composed of financial contribution from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7 / 2007-2013) and EFPIA companies' in kind contribution.